Let’s find out how the device performs in the real world testing.
Design
The M36 makes a good first impression. It’s slim, light, and comes in vibrant colour options like Serene Green and Orange Haze. At 7.7mm thick and with Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, it feels well-built and durable too.
But then you spot the Infinity-U cutout for the selfie camera, and suddenly the phone doesn’t look as modern anymore. In 2025, it feels like a missed opportunity — especially when most budget phones have moved to more seamless punch-hole cutouts. The chunky bottom bezel doesn’t help either — it breaks the illusion of a truly premium design.
Performance
Credit where it’s due, the M36 performs admirably. With the Exynos 1380 chip inside, it scored 98.5% stability on the 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Test, and in day-to-day use, it stayed cool and responsive. Scrolling, light gaming, doomscrolling — no complaints there.
One UI 7 runs beautifully. The animations are fluid, and the AI features genuinely enhance the experience. Circle to Search, in particular, has been a fun, useful addition in my day-to-day browsing.
But for a phone that tries to deliver a flagship-like feel, the audio setup is a letdown. The single speaker distorts at higher volumes and just isn’t loud enough, watching videos or playing music without earphones felt underwhelming.
Display and audio
Samsung’s display game remains strong. The 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED panel is stunning — bright, vibrant, and perfectly readable under harsh sunlight, thanks to Vision Booster and 120Hz refresh. It’s easily one of the M36’s biggest strengths.
But the experience doesn’t feel cohesive. The dated notch, the lack of an in-display fingerprint sensor (it’s side-mounted instead), and that underwhelming speaker — these choices make the device feel slightly behind the curve, even if the screen itself is top-notch.
Cameras
The 50MP triple camera setup does its job. In most lighting conditions, the photos are decent. OIS helps with stability, and the Auto Night Mode delivers usable low-light shots. You also get 4K recording on both front and rear cameras, which is a nice touch.
Still, I wasn’t wowed. The colours often lacked punch, and while the results are consistent, they didn’t exactly impress. The 13MP selfie camera is solid, but again — nothing standout. If photography is a priority for you, there are better options at this price.
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Battery
There’s been some chatter online about Samsung shrinking the battery this year. Personally, it didn’t bother me. The 5,000mAh cell got me through a full day with moderate to heavy use — calls, texting, social media, and a bit of light gaming. Sure, power users might want more, but for me, it held up. The 25W charging is decent, though not exactly blazing fast.
Verdict
At ₹16,499, the Galaxy M36 5G gets a lot of things right: It’s fast, looks good, and brings premium AI features to the mid-range segment. But it also plays it a bit too safe in areas that matter — design consistency, camera performance, and audio quality.
It’s a phone I enjoyed using, but not one I’d rave about. If you’re looking for a reliable everyday performer and don’t mind a few legacy quirks, the M36 won’t disappoint. Just know that it’s more of a solid upgrade than a game-changer.
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